Here you can post threads/topics about programs like vmware, parallels, qemu, virtualbox, dosbox and all the other virtual machines/emulators that exist. This includes how to setup, suggestions on what works well with MEPIS and what doesn't, etc.

On a fresh installation of SM 8.5, you need to first install your kernel headers before you can install VirtualBox. You also need to install other essential packages, which do not come "pre-installed" from the Live CD. The easiest way to do all of these things is to open a terminal and enter these commands:

In addition to posting that /var/log/vbox-install.log, it would help to know what version of virtualbox you are trying to install.

There are several "virtualbox" packages. For instance if you have enabled the download.virtualbox.org repo you will find seven "virtualbox" packages in Synaptic (virtualbox, virtualbox-2.0, virtualbox-2.1, virtualbox-2.2, virtualbox-3.0, virtualbox-3.1, virtualbox-3.2). The latest "virtualbox" is the virtualbox-3.2 package.

If you've tried to install the earliest virtualbox (the package named just plain "virtualbox"), the kernel module may fail to build because Mepis 8.0's 2.6.27 kernel might not be supported. I know this is the case when trying to install the "virtualbox" package in Mepis 8.5 and it's 2.6.32 kernel, the kernel module fails to build. With the "virtualbox-3.2" package, the kernel module builds just fine. I have a similar result in Mepis 8.5 with the Debian Lenny virtualbox-ose package.

Makefile:159: *** Error: unable to find the sources of your current Linux kernel. Specify KERN_DIR=<directory> and run Make again. Stop.

The virtualbox is 3.2.6 Lenny. And thanks for the help and patients. I've been using Ubuntu for about two years but I have RRMS and while servicing my primary unit my hand let go and killed it. The unit I'm on is over 10 years old and the U-10.04 would not install but Simply Mepis did and I'm beginning to like the OS.

Makefile:159: *** Error: unable to find the sources of your current Linux kernel. Specify KERN_DIR=<directory> and run Make again. Stop.

The virtualbox is 3.2.6 Lenny. And thanks for the help and patients. I've been using Ubuntu for about two years but I have RRMS and while servicing my primary unit my hand let go and killed it. The unit I'm on is over 10 years old and the U-10.04 would not install but Simply Mepis did and I'm beginning to like the OS.

It doesn't look like your kernel headers are installed, did you run the m-a prepare command that Joany suggested a few posts back?

If not, run the command below (even if you think you did install the headers earlier I would run it again)

You folks have been very kind and everything is ok in Bill's house. Mama even let me order a new mainboard, processor, fan and power supply to upgrade my old dual core that I dropped... Thanks a million gents!